Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he holds back. I hope...I believe it is because he wishes to mate me properly first, in ceremony." Payne felt the awful weight of premonition. "Beware, sister. You are a gentle soul." Layla got to her feet, her smile now saddened. "Yes, I am. But I would rather my heart be broken than unopened and I know that one must ask if one is to receive.

Love can conquer everything but reality. Which will win every stinking time.

We also mark what's ours. And as I'm not going to see you for twelve hours, I think I'll leave a little more all over you.

I can't... I find that I can't concentrate. On anything. I can't really..." Rhage's eyes drifted to Zsadist. "How do you live with it? All the anger. The pain. The...

With that, he looked over his shoulder. Blay's breath shot out of his lungs. "Oh... my God," he whispered.

Yo, cop. We're heading for Screamer's. You wanna come?" Butch looked up at the doorway. Vishous was in the hall with Rhage and Phury behind him. The vampires had expectant looks on their faces, like they honestly wanted to hang with him. Butch found himself grinning like the new kid who didn't have to sit alone at lunch after all.

To his mind, free will was a privilege, not a right.